India: 10K Green Houses to be Built for Weavers

Government on Wednesday announced a scheme for weavers aimed at meeting their housing needs and mechanisation of their workplace.

In a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said 10, 000 green houses would be constructed for weavers, along with the 60,000 to be built under the Chief Minister’s green house scheme, in the first phase during 2013-14.

Motorised spindles would be provided to 25,000 handloom weavers at a cost of Rs. 3.75 crore to minimise their workload and to double production. Pedal looms, attached with electric motors, would be given with subsidy to weavers of Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Tirunelveli, Cuddalore, Vellore, Tiruchengodu, Salem and Madurai. She also announced the payment of time-scale from January 1, 2013, for temporary employees of handloom and powerloom weavers’ cooperative societies with over five years of service on consolidated pay.

Outstanding artisans, who had dedicated their lives to creation of handicrafts in the State, would be given the ‘Living Handicraft Treasure’ award, similar to the ‘Living National Treasures of Japan’ award, from this year.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said the award, carrying Rs. 1 lakh, citation, a one-sovereign gold medal and a certificate, would be presented to 10 outstanding artisans over 65 years of age from 16 fields.

A programme to train 100 women in Tanjore painting would be launched in Srirangam by the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation.

Training would be provided using popular motifs of the region, like Sri Ranganathar, Samayapuram Mariamman and Akilandeswari, Ms. Jayalalithaa said. Besides a stipend of Rs. 2000 per month, participants would also get the raw material required for the paintings.